Bead-forming device for sewing machines

ABSTRACT

A bead-forming device for a sewing machine comprising an attachment to the foot support of such sewing machine and comprising a material-folding element with a needle guide. A projection extends laterally from the element and has an undercut guide slot into which one folded edge portion of the bead forming fabric strip is inserted to form an inner flap beneath the projection and an intermediate portion of the strip is passed under the inner flap and folded over the lateral free edge of the extension and forms a top flap which extends over the needle guide. A U-shaped clamp having top and bottom flanges is telescoped over the extension and releasably holds the fabric strip in folded position and continuously folds the strip to form the bead as the strip is advanced during sewing.

United States Patent Inventor Stanley "I1,"

3518 W. Le Moyne Ave., Chicago, 111. 60651 AppLNo. 11,114

liled Feb. 13, I970 lutented Ike. 21, I971 HEAD-FORMING DEVICE I011 SEWING MACHINES 10 Claims, 15 Drawing Figs.

2,096,691 10/1937 Ackerman et a1. 1 12/136 X 2,334,129 11/1943 Seaman 112/136 1,625,753 4/1927 Thomas 1 12/141 Primary Examiner-H. Hampton Hunter Auurney-iohn J. Kowalik ABSTRACT: A bead-forming deyice for a sewing machine comprising an attachment to the foot support of such sewing machine and comprising a material-folding element with a needle guide. A projection extends laterally from the element and has an undercut guide slot into which one folded edge portion of the bead forming fabric strip is inserted to form an inner flap beneath the projection and an intermediate portion of the strip is passed under the inner flap and folded over the lateral free edge of the extension and forms a top flap which extends over the needle guide. A U-shaped clamp having top and bottom flanges is teiescoped over the extension and releasably holds the fabric strip in folded position and continuously folds the strip .to form the bead as the strip is advanced during sewing.

PATENTEU BEBE] I97] SHEET 2 OF 2 'lk V E20. 21

2114; mag

HEAD-FORMING DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART TO the best of knowledge of applicant there is no device presently known which automatically forms a bead during sewing. The beads, such as for pockets, etc. of garments, are presently made by hand manipulation during sewing which requires the expertise of a master tailor. The work is extremely tedious and time consuming since the sewing line and the depth of the bead must be accurate. A high percentage of waste, ripping and resewing is common.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION THe instant invention comprises an attachment to a sewing machine and substitutes for the presser foot. It comprises a foot structure as heretofore described which readily folds and guides the material to form a bead. In actual experiments, I have found that even the inexperienced apprentice can form accurate beads of excellent workmanship with very little instruction. With the use of my novel invention even such apprentice can produce considerably more pieces than the most experienced workman and each piece will be of excellent workmanship.

A general object of the invention is to provide a novel beadforming device which performs efficiently and which is easy to use.

A further object is to provide in one embodiment an adjustable device for forming beads of different widths and in another embodiment several devices for different widths mounted on the foot support selectively disposed in operating positions.

These and other objects and advantages in an encompassed in the invention will become more apparent from the following specifications and drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view of a conven tional sewing machine incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. I showing one of the devices in operative position;

FIG. 4 is a rear view of the arrangement shown in FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a cross'sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 and 6aare sectional views taken substantially on line 66 of FIG. 2 showing different positions of the latch;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary front view of the bead-forming device in association with the cloth article;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged front view of a portion of the device shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a top view taken substantially on line 9-9 of the structure of FIG. 8; and

FIG. 10 is an enlarged edge view of one guide taken substantially on line IIII of FIG. I.

FIGS. ill-Id illustrate another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. II being a front view thereof;

FIG. I2 a rear view thereof;

FIG. 13 is a top plan taken substantially on line I3-I3 of FIG. III, and

FIG. I I is an enlarged top view of the jaw portion.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT OF FIGS. ll-III THe invention is shown in association with a standard more or less conventional sewing machine I which comprises a frame 2 housing conventional operating mechanism (not shown) for reciprocating the needle holder 3 which is mounted in the head 4 and carries a needle at its lower end which cooperates with the shuttle or bobbin mechanism (not shown) which is mounted below the bed or work table 7 upon which the cloth to be sewn is supported.

The machine is provided with a downwardly spring-biased cammed foot support or standard which is mounted in the head and is adjustable by a cam between raised and lowered positions as well known.

My novel bead forming device generally designated I2 comprises a body 113 which is has a socket I41 at one end. TI-Ie socket Id fits about the lower end of the standard It) and is secured thereto as by a bolt I5 extending through an opening I5ain body III and a threaded opening I6 in the standard It) and the body is tightened against a side of the standard I0.

The body I3 extends laterally of the support I0 and at its lateral distal end supports a diagonally positioned pivot bolt and nut assembly I7 which provides a diagonal axis of pivot on which is mounted a two ended reach member 116 for pivotal movement between two I66" displaced positions.

On the respective ends of the reach member 16 there are provided my novel guides 26, 211 extending from the reach III in opposite directions. Each guide is of identical construction except for size, guide 20 being larger than 211 and therefore, common parts will be identified by the same reference numeral.

Guide 20 is a generally planer member which includes a pair of laterally spaced inner and outer legs 23, 2d and an interconnecting forward bight portion 25. THe leg 23 merges at its rear end into the adjacent end of the reach and is transversely angled thereto at such angle so that when it is disposed in operating position it is substantially horizontal whereas the reach extends perpendicular to its axis of pivot. THe legs and bight portion of each guide define a rearwardly open needle guide fiat 227 through which the needle 26 ofthe machine operates.

It will be noted that the outer leg or spanner 26 is thinner than the inner leg 23 (FIG. 3) of each guide. The outer leg 24 along its inner longitudinal edge parallels the line of sewing and is provided with an outwardly facing groove or guide edge 29 of arcuate cross section as best seen in FIG. 8. The leg 24 is provided with a forwardly and upwardly sloping guide surface 30 extending from intermediate the ends of the leg or to its forward extremity 3I. This leg 24 also has its undersurface 30 sloping upwardly laterally outwardly (FIG. III).

The body portion I3 of the attachment pivotally supports on a horizontal axis via a bolt 35 a holding clamp generally designated 36 and operable for association with the guide 20 as hereinafter disclosed. The clamp 36 except for size is essentially identical to clamp 37 which associates with guide 21. Clamp 36 comprises a mounting arm 38 pivoted on the bolt 35 which is secured to the rear side 39 of an upward flange extension of the body I3. The arm 36 is curved and has a transverse portion II and a longitudinal portion 62 with reference to the line of sewing 62a. The portion 62 has an integral U-shaped jaw 63 and its distal forward end comprising top and bottom flanges 64 I5 and an arcuate interconnecting bight d6 defining a material receiving slot 47 open toward the associated guide (FIG. 6).

The clamp 36 is swingable between a raised inoperative position FIG. I and an operative position FIG. 3, '7 and 8. Arm portion II has a transverse extension 56 (FIG. 2 and d) which is pivoted directly on bolt 35 and provides a locking edge SI which is engaged by the locking latch 52 in the raised position of clamp 36. On the extension 52 there is provided a latch release projection 53 which in the raised position of the clamp 36 lays beneath the latch 52. The release projection or cam 53 operated to raise the latch 52 out of locking engagement with the edge 5I upon the clamp 36 being manually moved from raised to operating position. The latch 52 is pivoted on the bolt 5 which is mounted on flange 46. A handle 55 is integral with latch 52 and is engaged by one end 56 of a torsion spring 57 which has its coil mounted on bolt 56 and has its other end 56 (FIG. I) merging into a coil 59. Coil 59 is mounted on bolt 35 and the operating end 66 of coil 59 has a hook 61 under arm portion II biasing the clamp 36 upwardly.

The guide 21 is similar to guide 26, but is smaller and it also has the inner and outer portions 62, 63. The portion 62 is thicker than portion 63 and has an inner guidance edge 64 which provides a forwardly flaring surface at 65. Portions 62, 63 are interconnected by a forward transverse bight portion 66, which with the side portions 62, 63 that run parallel to the stitching line 62a, from a needle slot 66.

Inn: at

A clamp 37 is associated with the guide 21 in the same manner as the guide is associated with clamp 36. It will be noted however that the leg 63 is narrower than leg 24 and thus a smaller bead is formed by positioning the cloth about leg 63 in the same manner as about leg 24. The U-shaped clamp jaw described in operating position, has upper and lower opposed portions 73, 74 and an intervening bight portion 75 (FIG. 1) developing a guide slot 76 which receives the leg 63 edgewise therein. The underface 77 of the leg 63 slopes upwardly forwardly identical with surface (FIG. 10).

Clamp 36 is held in its operating position by the latch 52 engaging behind the lug 53 on extension (FIG. 4). To release clamp 36, the operator depresses the handle 55 which raises the latch 52 above the lug 53 and permits the spring to snap the clamp 36 upwardly (FIG. 4).

It will be observed that the line of stitching designated 77 is along side the previous line of stitching or sewing 42a(FIG. 9) and that the width of the bead as shown in FIG. 7 is the function of the width of leg 63 or 24.

The clamp comprises an L-shaped arm 76 with a longitudinal portion 79 connected at its distal and to jaw 72 and at its inner end to the adjacent end of transverse portion 80. The inner end of portion 80 is pivoted on a horizontal bolt 81 (FIG. 4) which is secured to the body 13. A torsion spring 82 has its coil wrapped on bolt 81 and one end portion 84 hooked under portion 79 and the other leg 85 of the spring is anchored to the body through a hook end 86 of a torsion spring 87 which has its coil mounted on a bolt 89. The bolt 89 (FIG. 5) is secured to the rear of body I3 and is a pivot for a latch 90 which is biased downwardly by the opposite end 91 of spring 87 hooked thereover.

The latch 90 extends beyond opposite sides of pivot I7 and engages either edge 92 or 93 (FIG. 5) of the reach depending upon its position. The latch 90 has an operator 94 therethrough receiving a bulbous end 95 of an operator 96 pivoted by a bolt at 97 intermediate its ends to the body and having a finger tab 98 at its outer end, the tab having an abutment 99 engaging abutment 100 (FIG. 5) 0n the body to limit downward movement of the latch 90.

The clamp 70 is held in its operating position by a latch 102 which is pivoted on a bolt 103 (FIG. 3) secured to the body. The end portion 104 of the latch I03 engages an abutment 105 as at l05aof the leg 80 of the clamp 37 as seen in FIG. 6 preventing the clamp from swinging upwardly.

Latch I03 is operated by integral finger tab or handle 106. Latch 103 is biased to locking position by torsion spring 107 having leg I08 which is loaded upwardly extending under tab I06 and the other leg 109 is anchored at 110 to the body.

THe portion 104 of latch I02 engages edge In of leg 80 when the clamp 70 is elevated as best seen in FIG. 6a.

As best seen in FIGS. 7 and 8, the base cloth 112 is sewn at 42ato the bead-forming piece lI3 which has a portion 114 at one side of the line of sewing 42aturned up over the intermediate portion 115 forming a fold edge I I6 which fits against the guide edge 29. The bottom side I17 of the intermediate portion lays upon the flange 45 of clamp wall 43 while the top side 1 18 of portion 114 slides under surface 30. The intermediate portion 115 wraps over the lateral edge I I8aof leg 24 and merges into an upper portion 119 of the cloth fold which extends over the needle guide slot 27 and is held down by the top flange 44 of clamp 43.

It will be noted that the top web or flange of each clamp jaw slopes upwardly forwardly to provide a tapering inlet for the top fold 119 of the material.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1 l-l4 An adjustable bead-forming device 120 is shown in FIGS. [0-12 and comprises a body portion 121 which is connected as by bolts 122 to one end 123 of a reach 124 which at its other end is provided with a guide I25 The guide 125 comprises a leg 126 extending generally parallel with the line of sewing and provided with a guide edge I27 having a forwardly flaring inlet end I28. A laterally adjustable bead-width-determining spanner 129 is provided with a transverse furcated portion 130 secured as by screws I31, 131 to the top of guide leg I26 and has a longitudinal section or leg I32 which defines a needle slot 133 and shifting the spanner 129 rightwardly (FIG. I2) reduces the width and shifting the spanner I29 leftwardly increases the width.

Tl'le clamp 130 comprises arm 131 which has a longitudinal portion 132' to which a jaw 133' is adjustably connected by means of bolt and nut assemblies I34, 134 for lateral displacement complimentary to and in accordance with the adjustment of the spanner I29 i.e., leftward or rightward adjustment of spanner 129 is accompanied by similar adjustment of the jaw element which has spaced jaw portions 135, I36 and an interconnecting bight web 137.

The arm 131' has a transverse portion 138 which is pivoted on the body block 121 by a bolt 140 secured to the block for swinging movement about a horizontal axis.

A latch 142 is pivoted by a bolt 143 to the block 121 and has a finger tab 144 which is biased upwardly by the leg 145 of the spring I46 attached thereto. Spring 146 has a coil I47 wound on bolt 143, the other leg 148 of spring 146 is common with the reaction leg of coil 149 of spring 150. Coil 149 is mounted on the pivot bolt 140 of the clamp and the opposite end 152 of the spring is hooked under the arm portion 138.

Thus as seen in FIG. 12 in phantom lines the latch I42 engages at the back edge of portion 154 of the arm portion 138 to hold the clamp in operating position. The positioning of the cloth in this embodiment is identical as in the previous embodiment. The body 121 is secured to the foot support standard by a bolt I55 which clamps a flange I56 thereto.

Thus in each embodiment a novel releasable clamp and guide assembly functions to hold the cloth in a bead-forming fold and to progressively guide such cloth in such folded position as the cloth is being advanced during sewing.

Having described several preferred embodiments of the invention, it will be readily apparent that other forms will now become apparent to those skilled in the art which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

I. A bead-forming device for attachment to a presser foot support of a sewing machine having a work-supporting surface comprising: a body having means for attachment to said support, a presser-foot guide assembly generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operating position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot, means providing surfaces on one of said portions of said presser-foot guide assembly for guiding prefolded material, said guide surface being spaced above the work-supporting surface for accommodating prefolded material, means comprising a clamp having a jaw U-shaped in transverse section, and means swingably mounting said clamp on said body and positionable between released and operating positions and in the latter position being telescoped over and having embracing relation to said guiding surface for confining the prefolded material between said work-supporting surface and said guide surface and the remaining portion of said material passes between an upper surface of the presser-foot guide and the opposing portion of the U-shaped clamp and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide and an outlet at the rear end of the guide.

2. The invention according to claim 1 and said guide surfaces on said portions flaring toward said forward end.

3. The invention according to claim 1 and said one side portion being adjustable with respect to the other side portion for varying the spacing width therebetween and said clamp being correspondingly adjustable.

4. The invention according to claim I and a second guide assembly of different dimension than the first,

and said means mounting said guide assembly having plural ends and said first-mentioned guide assembly mounted at one end and the second guide assembly mounted on the other end,

said last-mentioned means pivotally mounted on said body and swingable to selectively position said assemblies individually in operating position.

5. A bead-forming device for attachment to a foot-presser support of a sewing machine comprising:

a body having means for attachment to said support,

a guide generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operating position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot;

means mounting said guide on the body,

means providing surfaces on said portions for guiding prefolded material,

means comprising a clamp having a jaw U-shaped in transverse section swingably mounted on and positionable between released and said operating positions and in the latter position having embracing relation to one of said side portions for holding the material as prefolded thereon and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide and an outlet at the rear end of the guide,

said means mounting said guide comprising a reach,

means pivoting said reach intermediate its ends to said body,

a second guide of different dimension that the first-mentioned guide,

said guides mounted at opposite ends of the reach,

and a second clamp dimensioned to cooperate with the second guide attendant to the latter being positioned in operating position.

6. The invention according to claim 1 and said clamp comprising an L-shaped arm having one leg extending transversely of the guide means and pivoted to the body on a substantially horizontal axis and having another leg extending lengthwise of the line of sewing and having a distal end mounting said jaw.

7. A bead-forming device for attachment to a presser-foot support ofa sewing machine comprising:

a body having means for attachment to said support,

a guide assembly generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operating position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot;

means mounting said guide assembly on the body;

means providing surfaces on said portions for guiding prefolded material,

means comprising a clamp having a jaw U-shaped in transverse section swingably mounted on and positionable between released and said operating positions and in the latter position having embracing relation to one of said side portions for holding the material as prefolded thereon and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide and an outlet at the rear end of the guide, the other of said guide portions having a guide shoulder with a guide groove opposite said one guide portion and disposed therebelow, and the bight portion having an undersurface formed as a continuation from the guide shoulder and disposed forwardly of the needle slot, and a bottom surface on the guide portion extending from said guide shoulder to the remote edge of the one guide portion. 8. The invention according to claim 7 and said jaw having spaced webs and an intervening web,

and in operating position said jaw having one spaced web overlying said one side portion and the other web underlying said one side portion and the intervening web opposing said remote edge. 9. A bead-forming device for attachment to a presser-foot support of a sewing machine comprising:

a bod having means for attachment to said support; a gul e assembly generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operating position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot;

means mounting said guide assembly on the body;

means providing surfaces on said portions for guiding prefolded material,

means comprising a clamp having ajaw U-shaped in transverse section swingably mounted on and positionable between released and said operating positions and in the latter position having embracing relation to one of said side portions for holding the material as prefolded thereon and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide assembly and an outlet at the rear end of the guide assembly,

said means mounting said guide assembly comprising a reach pivoted intermediate its ends on a diagonal axis,

and said guide assembly extending from one end of the reach at such angle as to assume horizontal disposition in operating position thereof,

another differently dimensioned guide assembly on the other end of the reach extending at an angle thereto similarly to the first-mentioned guidle assembly,

and means for releasably locking said reach in selected posi' tion with a selected guide assembly in operating position.

10. The invention according to claim 9 and a second clamp pivoted on the body for association with the second guide assembly,

means biasing each clamp to inoperative position and releasable latch means on the body operably associated with respective clamps for releasably holding them in operating positions and releasing the same for swinging movement by the respective baising means to inoperative position. 

1. A bead-forming device for attachment to a presser foot support of a sewing machine having a work-supporting surface comprising: a body having means for attachment to said support, a presser-foot guide assembly generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operatiNg position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot, means providing surfaces on one of said portions of said presser-foot guide assembly for guiding prefolded material, said guide surface being spaced above the work-supporting surface for accommodating prefolded material, means comprising a clamp having a jaw U-shaped in transverse section, and means swingably mounting said clamp on said body and positionable between released and operating positions and in the latter position being telescoped over and having embracing relation to said guiding surface for confining the prefolded material between said worksupporting surface and said guide surface and the remaining portion of said material passes between an upper surface of the presser-foot guide and the opposing portion of the U-shaped clamp and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide and an outlet at the rear end of the guide.
 2. The invention according to claim 1 and said guide surfaces on said portions flaring toward said forward end.
 3. The invention according to claim 1 and said one side portion being adjustable with respect to the other side portion for varying the spacing width therebetween and said clamp being correspondingly adjustable.
 4. The invention according to claim 1 and a second guide assembly of different dimension than the first, and said means mounting said guide assembly having plural ends and said first-mentioned guide assembly mounted at one end and the second guide assembly mounted on the other end, said last-mentioned means pivotally mounted on said body and swingable to selectively position said assemblies individually in operating position.
 5. A bead-forming device for attachment to a foot-presser support of a sewing machine comprising: a body having means for attachment to said support, a guide generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operating position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot; means mounting said guide on the body, means providing surfaces on said portions for guiding prefolded material, means comprising a clamp having a jaw U-shaped in transverse section swingably mounted on and positionable between released and said operating positions and in the latter position having embracing relation to one of said side portions for holding the material as prefolded thereon and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide and an outlet at the rear end of the guide, said means mounting said guide comprising a reach, means pivoting said reach intermediate its ends to said body, a second guide of different dimension that the first-mentioned guide, said guides mounted at opposite ends of the reach, and a second clamp dimensioned to cooperate with the second guide attendant to the latter being positioned in operating position.
 6. The invention according to claim 1 and said clamp comprising an L-shaped arm having one leg extending transversely of the guide means and pivoted to the body on a substantially horizontal axis and having another leg extending lengthwise of the line of sewing and having a distal end mounting said jaw.
 7. A bead-forming device for attachment to a presser-foot support of a sewing machine comprising: a body having means for attachment to said support, a guide assembly generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operating position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot; means mounting said guide assembly on the body; means providing surfaces on said portions for guiding prefolded material, means comprising a clamp having a jaw U-shaped in transverse section swingably mounted on and positionable between released and said operating posItions and in the latter position having embracing relation to one of said side portions for holding the material as prefolded thereon and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide and an outlet at the rear end of the guide, the other of said guide portions having a guide shoulder with a guide groove opposite said one guide portion and disposed therebelow, and the bight portion having an undersurface formed as a continuation from the guide shoulder and disposed forwardly of the needle slot, and a bottom surface on the guide portion extending from said guide shoulder to the remote edge of the one guide portion.
 8. The invention according to claim 7 and said jaw having spaced webs and an intervening web, and in operating position said jaw having one spaced web overlying said one side portion and the other web underlying said one side portion and the intervening web opposing said remote edge.
 9. A bead-forming device for attachment to a presser-foot support of a sewing machine comprising: a body having means for attachment to said support; a guide assembly generally U-shaped in plan having a pair of laterally displaced side portions and an intervening bight portion disposed in operating position in a generally horizontal plane, said portions defining a needle-accommodating slot; means mounting said guide assembly on the body; means providing surfaces on said portions for guiding prefolded material, means comprising a clamp having a jaw U-shaped in transverse section swingably mounted on and positionable between released and said operating positions and in the latter position having embracing relation to one of said side portions for holding the material as prefolded thereon and providing a material inlet at the forward end of the guide assembly and an outlet at the rear end of the guide assembly, said means mounting said guide assembly comprising a reach pivoted intermediate its ends on a diagonal axis, and said guide assembly extending from one end of the reach at such angle as to assume horizontal disposition in operating position thereof, another differently dimensioned guide assembly on the other end of the reach extending at an angle thereto similarly to the first-mentioned guide assembly, and means for releasably locking said reach in selected position with a selected guide assembly in operating position.
 10. The invention according to claim 9 and a second clamp pivoted on the body for association with the second guide assembly, means biasing each clamp to inoperative position and releasable latch means on the body operably associated with respective clamps for releasably holding them in operating positions and releasing the same for swinging movement by the respective baising means to inoperative position. 